Background
The Technical Manager at each of the Smurfit WestRock Carton sites has had a working relationship with Truform for about 40 years. Smurfit Westrock, right back to when it was W. W. Clelands in central Belfast, has consistently been a leading print and packaging supplier. In the 1960’s their tooling was produced internally in their in-house die shop the old-fashioned way using jigsaws as was the norm at the time. However, the need for uniformity in production became more important and outsourcing the supply of tooling to Truform began. Noel Tumilty, the founder, had invested in leading edge technology in the 1980’s (CAD design systems, lasers and more) which helped to automate many of the processes in the production of Dies. Truform could guarantee the quality and accuracy of dies now required for machine erected cartons in the packaging industry.”
Comprehensive Service
Truform has continued to work closely with Smurfit Westrock through it’s various owners over the years, delivering press-ready tooling which allows for maximizing machine performance and improve productivity. “They offer the complete package, often integrating embossing or Braille Dies. It’s an end-to-end service and we work with Truform for lots of reasons – the speed of response, the high quality, their experience and the expert technical support.”
For us, the geographical proximity is a practical advantage. “Truform could be next door such is the support we get! The short distance saves transport costs and time, which is important in this environment on a routine basis. And short lead times mean that we can respond quickly to market demands. On top of that, they can support emergency situations with immediate back-up, so it’s a huge advantage to have a nearby supplier.”
Future Developments
The fact that Truform is so familiar with the packaging market has enabled the company to support our Research & Development projects and the businesses work together to face the challenges in our dynamic marketplace. “I foresee an ongoing relationship with Truform and we work closely with them in developing new packaging designs and performance solutions. They support our drive for continuous improvement, using the latest technologies available, and that’s a priority for us.”